USNI News – Lloyd’s List Intelligence tracked 73 Strait of Hormuz transits over the past week, with 91 between Aug. 3 and 9 and 99 the prior week. This week’s numbers will change once ships turn back on their automatic identification systems after they finish transiting.

USNI News – Traffic levels in the Strait of Hormuz last week dropped yet again, bringing the flow of ships through the Middle East passageway to levels not seen since March, shortly after the conflict between Iran and the United States began.

New York Post – A top Iranian navy commander claimed the Islamic Republic has deployed some of its small submarines, known as the “dolphins of the Persian Gulf,” in the Strait of Hormuz to wreak further havoc on the critical oil chokepoint, according to state media.

(Thanks to Alain)

Navy Lookout – The United States has claimed the destruction of 90% of Iran’s stockpile of around 8,000 mines, as well as 161 naval vessels of all types during 38 days of combat operations. Admiral Cooper, Commander CENTCOM, delivered the assessment in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday.

The War Zone – The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy claims it has greatly expanded how it defines the Strait of Hormuz, which it has closed to most shipping since the start of the now-paused war. Under its new definition, the IRGC claimed a tenfold expansion “forming a complete crescent” of “about 20 to 30 miles to one now over 200 to 300 miles.”

Navy Lookout – Despite repeated reports that Iran has mined the Strait of Hormuz, there is still no conclusive evidence that any mines have actually been laid. Nevertheless, the threat is being taken seriously by the RN and other naval powers because even the possibility of mining one of the w

1945 – Defense expert Dr. Brent M. Eastwood evaluates the operational neutralization of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) submarine fleet. During the second week of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. CENTCOM and the IDF established total air superiority, targeting the “Black Hole” Kilo-class boats.

(Thanks to Alain)

Covert Shores – The threat of Iran’s naval mines, together with ASBMs (anti-ship ballistic missiles) and USVs (surface drones), is closing the Straits of Hormuz. The narrows waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf is critical to global economy with approximately 20% of the world’s oil transiting it. Below are the main/relevant types of mines. It cannot be ruled out that Iran may have other types in addition to these.

USNI News – Missiles are currently the largest threat to merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf instead of sea mines, defense officials told reporters Friday.

Naval News – The Strait of Hormuz has become the focal point of a dangerous escalation as reports of Iranian mine-laying operations emerge, prompting the United States to respond with precision strikes against Iranian naval assets, particularly minelayers. On March 10, U.S. CENTCOM announced the destruction of 16 Iranian minelayers and multiple warships.

USNI News – Suspected Iranian projectiles hit three commercial ships Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

RUSI – Protecting maritime trade means having shared situational awareness and distributed presence rather than large visible formations which might serve only as big targets.

Covert Shores – Iran’s ‘mosquito fleet’ of small fast boats has yet to make a large impact in the war in the Middle East. But it’s explosive-laden USVs (uncrewed surface vessels), conceptually similar to those used by Ukraine, have struck tankers.

Covert Shores – An excellent overview by HI Sutton.

Strikepod Systems – Possible Iranian concept of operations for disrupting the Strait of Hormuz

The War Zone – As the U.S. flows assets toward the Middle East, including the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) now reportedly off the Moroccan coast, Iran, China and Russia will hold their recurring joint naval training exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media. Moscow and Tehran see the Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise as particularly relevant in light of current events, and there are reasons for the White House and Pentagon to take note. Having Russian or Chinese warships in these waters amid a U.S. attack on Iran could have military and political implications planners must address. At the same time, the timing of the still ongoing U.S. buildup and the exercise point to it having more of a messaging effect than an operational one.

USNI News – Warships from China, Russia and Iran amassed in the waters off South Africa to kick off a weeklong drill alongside the South African National Defense Force.

EuroNews – ran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces seized a foreign oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz over alleged fuel smuggling.

(Thanks to Alain)

Iran Press TV – Iran’s Navy commander praised the country’s “expanding maritime presence” beyond the region, announcing that the Navy’s 103rd and 104th task groups have set sail on overseas missions and are currently en route to South Africa.

(Thanks to Alain)

NBC News – Iran on Saturday confirmed seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz over violations including carrying an illegal consignment, state media reported.

France 24 – More than sixty people were killed in an explosion over the port of Shahid Rajaee in Iran on April 26. Several sources designate a cargo as responsible for the explosion: containers containing sodium perchlorate – a substance necessary for the manufacture of missile fuel. If the causes remain unclear, the tragedy highlights the role of supply ships, connecting China to Iran, and which seek to hide their activities.

(In French) (Thanks to Alain)

La Libre – Iranian shipping carriers use their trade route to the port of Antwerp as a cover for anti-Western activities, the newspaper De Tijd wrote in an investigation on Friday. Six ships are suspected of espionage, of helping the Houthi rebels in their attacks on Western ships and of transporting weapons to Syria and Russia, among others.

(In French)

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – China, Iran and Russia conducted joint naval drills Tuesday in the Middle East, offering a show of force in a region still uneasy over Tehran’s rapidly expanding nuclear program and as Yemen’s Houthi rebels threaten new attacks on ships.

Mehr – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has unveiled a new high-speed vessel equipped with advanced cruise missiles capable of targeting enemy destroyers, marking a significant enhancement in Iran’s naval defense capabilities.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – On February 06, 2025, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ accepted the delivery of the new homegrown drone and helicopter carrier ship Shahid Bahman Bagheri during a ceremony in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.